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Safeway reports theft of COVID-19 vaccine records in Washington, D.C.

'No indications that any of the stolen information has been misused,' retailer says

Russell Redman

September 21, 2021

2 Min Read
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Parent company Albertsons Cos. said an employee assisting in an off-site COVID vaccine clinic was a theft victim.Safeway

COVID-19 vaccine records were stolen from an off-site vaccination clinic held by Safeway in Washington, D.C.

Parent company Albertsons Cos. said Tuesday that, on Sept. 8, an employee who facilitated Safeway’s COVID vaccine clinic at the Fort Stanton Recreation Center at 1812 Erie St. SE in the District of Columbia was “the victim of a theft,” and stolen items included 138 paper vaccination consent forms for patients who visited this site on Sept. 2, 4 or 7.

Safeway immediately notified law enforcement and launched an internal investigation, according to Albertsons. Though currently there are no indications that any of the stolen information has been misused, Safeway on Sept. 16 mailed notifications to all individuals that it could identify as potentially being impacted, the company said.

In addition, Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway is asking anyone who attended the clinic on any of those three days to call (202) 941-6412 to help verify that its electronic records accurately reflect their COVID vaccination status.

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“Safeway Pharmacies make every effort to handle patient records with the utmost care and privacy, and we deeply regret this situation,” Amir Masood, director of pharmacy operations for Safeway’s Eastern division, said in a statement. “We notified the impacted patients that we could identify, and we are taking measures to avoid a future occurrence, including improving training to reinforce controls and policies related to paper forms.”

Related:Kroger joins Buy Safe America Coalition

All of Albertsons Cos.’ 1,730 pharmacies offer COVID-19 vaccines and on a walk-in basis as well as at off-site clinics, a company spokeswoman said. To date, Albertsons has administered approximately 7 million COVID vaccinations.

Overall, Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos. operated 2,278 retail food and drug stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under such banners as Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market.

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Albertsons

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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